Arteta aiming to rediscover route to goal in Europe

GIVEN his commute to Arsenal's training ground involves driving round the M25, it is little surprise Mikel Arteta has compared his side's attacking struggles to being stuck in traffic.

- Simon Collings

Arsenal are top of the Premier League and can book a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League tonight with a point against Lens, but they are yet to fully click going forward this season.

The Gunners rank 11th in the Premier League for goals scored from open play - and defensive steel has instead been the bedrock of their success.

No team has conceded fewer League goals than Arsenal, and Arteta has been accused of ditching last season's eyecatching style for a more pragmatic approach.

Arteta insists that ploy has not been deliberate, and Arsenal's exploits in Europe so far certainly support his claim.

The Gunners have scored nine goals in four games in Group B and, prior to this round of matches, only three sides had bettered that tally.

In the Premier League, Arsenal have had to contend with teams sitting deep and doubling up on their wingers.

But it has been a different story in the Champions League, with many of Arteta's young players revelling in the space afforded to them in their debut season in the competition.